My knees? They’re fine says journalist touched by Fallon
THE female journalist whose knee was touched by the Defence Secretary 15 years ago told complainants to ‘get a grip’ yesterday, insisting she was not a victim.
Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer, 49, said Westminster was embroiled in a ‘witch-hunt’ and it was ‘bonkers’ to conflate ‘misjudged workplace flirting’ with serious sexual assaults.
She said Sir Michael Fallon, 5, should not face any action after he apologised on Monday for putting his hand on her knee at a boozy dinner at the Tory party conference in 2002. Miss Hartley-Brewer told Sky News: ‘I wasn’t a victim of any crime, this man did not commit a crime, this was misjudged workplace flirting.
‘It happens, and it happens in every office, in every workplace across the country.’
She also posted a picture of her knees on Twitter, and joked: ‘Full medical check-up this morning and yes, both of my knees are still intact. Get a grip, people. Although not on my knee, obviously.’
Her defence of Sir Michael came after No10 said Theresa May believed he was right to say sorry but confirmed there would be not be an investigation in the absence of any complaint. Sir Michael, a married father of two, admitted this week that the incident occurred and said he apologised to Miss Hartley-Brewer at the time. Miss Hartley-Brewer, who hosts a show on Talk Radio, also derided Labour MP Rupa Huq after she spoke out about being touched by an MEP with ‘wandering hands’ when she was young.
She said if Dr Huq’s story was the ‘worst’ of her career then ‘don’t we live in a great time and a great age’.